Homeless man set 3 Fort Worth apartment fires after being kicked out for squatting: police
Fort Worth - A 35-year-old homeless man has been arrested in connection with three fires at East Fort Worth apartment complexes last week.
The suspect reportedly told police he lit the fires because he was angry at apartment complexes that kicked him out for squatting.
The suspect, Adam Ewing, 35, is accused of intentionally setting fires on:
- Nov. 15 at 8808 Hornaday Circle South
- Nov. 16 at 8801 Hornaday Circle North
- Nov. 18 at 1400 Vanderbilt West
Fire investigators say Erwing deliberately set three separate fires at two apartment complexes within four days.
"We interviewed him, and he admitted to being angry because he was kicked out of the complexes and was basically criminally trespassed," said Fort Worth Fire Capt. Wayne May.
Investigators say Ewing had been a squatter at the Flats on Mill apartment complex in East Fort Worth until he was discovered and kicked out.
"He found a vacant apartment in the apartment complex and was staying there I don’t know how long," May said.
Saturday night, a separate fire was set at the same complex. The damage was not as severe.
Investigators say key evidence in the case was from a Ring doorbell camera at the apartment complex off Vanderbilt West, which was the scene of the third fire.
Investigators say a balcony fire was also Ewings’ work.
"He was seen in the area where the fire started and going back and forth with cardboard boxes and some other common combustibles, taking it to where the fire had started. Then you’d see the fire in the background," May said.
Police say thanks to witness statements, surveillance video and arson-detecting canines, Ewing is off the street. They believe Ewing had intent to keep setting fires.
"He also said, from my understanding, he had a list of other apartments he was going to do," May said.
Ewing was arrested Monday evening at a homeless encampment near Eastchase Parkway, close to the damaged complexes. He was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on three felony arson charges.